Type of glass fpr 2m tank

What type of glass should i use for a 2m*700mm*700mm tank i know thickness just what type?

 

LOW IRON GLASS... for best clarity on a "show tank"

 

i would say nothing less than 12mm glass

 

+1

Also make sure it gets some bracing.

 

Starphire glass is very very expensive

My set up on my 1800X600X600:

Double 10mm base, sides are also 10mm. Bracing both sides 2X10mm running the length of the tank

 

Neilh ,, if you dont mind posting what did your tank cost ??

 

No idea, I bought it second hand. IIRC new would cost ~8-10k from the guy that built it

 

dam thats alot guess we have a expensive hobby

 

Please elaborate on this type of glass. I imagine that is much more expensive than "normal" glass?

 

I just thought glass is glass ???

 

One more Q.
How do they cut 12mm glass?

 

Carefully very Carefully

 

Most tanks are made out of normal window glass which is called Float Glass , it is called float glass be casue of the proses of how it is made. Float glass is made by putting sillica sand and other ingredients into a huge boiling vat of molted Tin , they ingredients then melt together and FLOAT to the top of the moltin tin. Float glass is made in Long "run" sometimes up to 25km long. It is then cut to size . With float glass there will always be a what we call a TIN side this is the side of the glass that was touching the tin when it was made , This i find also reduces the clarity of the Glass and i always tend to put the tin side inside the tank for clarity , If you guys are wanting to build tank dont always go for the cheapest glass , all the cheap glass is made in china and is weak and will not offer the clarity you guys will be looking for . PG glass is the best but not cheapest of the float glass and its locally made with is always good.
Cutting 12mm glass is easy with the right tools , Glass cutters are not just glass cutters. You get different angles on the cuting heads and the higher the angle the thicker glass it is made for. Normally something with a 120 degree angle is for 3mm-6mm and for 10mm-12mm you would be looking for a cutter with a 130-140 degree cutting head

Sorry to answere your question i would go for 14mm glass with is REALLY expencive , if you brought the height of you tank down to 600mm 12mm would be a safe option. The height is one of the most important factors when chooseing glass

 

Thanks Reafer, that single post taught me a number of new things.

 

what about if a put angle iron bracing from the hood to the stand. and build the tank inside the bracing?

 

Will work but it looks so "out of date" and the iron always rust.(My personal opinion)

 

True. i will go further into it and design a better way.

 

IF you were going to use angle Iron the I would suggest that you cover it with a wood frame, basically you make a steel frame and cover it with wood to hide the steel. I think that would look Awesome if done correctly

 

The cheaper glass has a slight greenish tinge to it. I would assume when people are saying going for a low iron glass you are elliminating that greeish haze. Generally when you look at the glas from square on, you almost never pick up this haze, but from an angle it could make your tank look like it has algea floating in it constantly.

Shop around, phone around, and if possible, go look at samples of the glass on offer.

 

I can get Crystal clear glass if ppl want u cant actually beleive the difference , but can you say expencive becasue that would be an understatement , R345 a square meter for 3mm!!So for 10mm you looking at R1800 a square meter but it is stunning the one drawback is it scratches easier ,I made a 30L tank with it and black sillicon is was wow, As for a steel frame i wouldnt know what glass u would need for it , thats really oldschool , i know that they used window putty to seal it and evertime u drain the tank u have to reseal it, Maybe the prof can help you on that one